Do the computers have serial numbers in BIOS, like Dells/HPs etc.? Use the serial number and then it will only get changed if you have to replace the motherboard and you don't have the option to reset it back. Other than a hardware check there isn't anything that won't ever change by something like an OS install and even with a hardware check, it's going to change if you ever change the hardware. In the computer world, there's nothing permanent. If you keep the computer names from OS version to new OS version, then you have that as something to track, user names/IP Addresses are as changeable as your underwear.

If I posted any code, assume that code was written using the latest release version unless stated otherwise. Also, if it doesn't work on XP I can't help with that because I don't have access to XP, and I'm not going to.Give a programmer the correct code and he can do his work for a day. Teach a programmer to debug and he can do his work for a lifetime - by Chirag GudeHow to ask questions the smart way!

I hereby grant any person the right to use any code I post, that I am the original author of, on the autoitscript.com forums, unless I've specifically stated otherwise in the code or the thread post. If you do use my code all I ask, as a courtesy, is to make note of where you got it from.

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jchd 1,007

jchd 1,007

The problem is that your question is fundamentally ill-posed. If you expect a reasonable answer, then you first have to define "computer". That's where the problem begins.

Let's assume that a "computer" consists of a chassis, a power supply, a motherboard, a CPU, memory, HDD, DVD, display, peripherals.

Is that the same computer if I change any element in it against another compatible element?

What does the "computer" become if I decide to disassemble it and place everyone of its elements into other "computers"?

Even if you assume that you can uniquely identify every element with a unique number, which is currently essentially impossible using stock components, the answer to the above questions is the real issue.

Now if the software used to check any unique ID is available for an open machine, it will become the weakest link, so you need to protect against that threat as well which is much harder than solving the --already hard-- hardware issue.

That raises the question of tamper-resistance, to barr cheating. You quickly end up with unpractical, utterly expensive and proprietary solutions, which are likely to be broken anytime soon if it is worth it.

SQLitespeed is another feature-rich premier SQLite manager (includes import/export). Well worth a try.SQLite Expert (freeware Personal Edition or payware Pro version) is a very useful SQLite database manager.An excellent eBook covering almost every aspect of SQLite3: a must-read for anyone doing serious work.SQL tutorial (covers "generic" SQL, but most of it applies to SQLite as well)A work-in-progress SQLite3 tutorial. Don't miss other LxyzTHW pages!SQLite official website with full documentation (may be newer than the SQLite library that comes standard with AutoIt)

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Dana 26

Dana 26

Many copy protection schemes use the MAC address of the network adapter. Sure, you could move the network card into another computer if it's not part of the motherboard, but is it really an issue? Either way, there's only going to be one network card with that MAC address out of a pool of some 281 trillion possibilities. Sometimes it uses the serial number of the first hard drive in the [extremely unlikely, these days] event that a network adapter isn't found.

SQLitespeed is another feature-rich premier SQLite manager (includes import/export). Well worth a try.SQLite Expert (freeware Personal Edition or payware Pro version) is a very useful SQLite database manager.An excellent eBook covering almost every aspect of SQLite3: a must-read for anyone doing serious work.SQL tutorial (covers "generic" SQL, but most of it applies to SQLite as well)A work-in-progress SQLite3 tutorial. Don't miss other LxyzTHW pages!SQLite official website with full documentation (may be newer than the SQLite library that comes standard with AutoIt)

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seandisanti 2

seandisanti 2

I have used "smac" to change mine on the occaision, its just a couple of clicks.

madmacs is a quick and free, and originally made with autoit if i remember correctly. all it really does is a quick registry edit, but it lets you reset for any or all of your mac id's also which is nice when you're running wireless, lan, etc

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Dana 26

Dana 26

The various means of changing the MAC address don't actually change the MAC address which is burned into the card, only what gets reported to Windows networking. I don't know if a program like a copy protection scheme which relies on hardware would be able to read the true hardware MAC... if it couldn't it would seem to be a pretty big security hole for such programs.